Invocation

by Tera Lyn Cortez

  Celeste and I went over the process of restoring magic to the soul of a living being numerous times, and I felt confident I could do it, no problem. I might be slow at first, but it seemed to be a reasonably straightforward process.

  I dozed off a little as I waited for the first group to arrive. Celeste remained and hovered silently, watching over me. I caught snippets of the dream state, but since I didn't slip into a deep sleep, I didn't get a good grasp on whatever it had been trying to show me. Hopefully it could wait a bit longer. I sent out a silent prayer to the universe that my mom would still be there when we went to collect her.

  Xavier announced via our bond that he would be arriving with the first group momentarily, and I met him in the library. We had previously decided that room made the most sense, as we could close ourselves in with individuals, but it had a large waiting room right outside the doors. It also had a pair of doors leading out to the grounds where we had set up temporary living arrangements. We had done the best we could in the small amount of time we had.

  Everyone coming had supposedly been briefed and knew what to expect. I hadn't seen Solomon, and I hoped that continued to be the case, but I knew he had been working on recruiting volunteers, so I wouldn't be too surprised if he made an appearance at some point.

  Xavier ushered in the first group and introduced me to the crowd. Nobody seemed to want to be the first guinea pig, even after I assured them that I was indeed the reigning scribe. Everyone throughout the realms knew of the scribe, and her powers. I thought there may have been some seeds of doubt about whether I had the abilities that had been making the rounds in rumors since we began our recruitment process.

  Finally, a young fae volunteered. Not only did he agree to step up and be the first to have his magic restored, he also agreed to let the others observe. I almost made a snarky comment about the young one having the only balls in the room but bit my tongue. No sense in alienating those who had come to help us. Although, many of them may have just come because I represented their only chance at getting their magic back. Either way, I decided to play nice. For now.

  “What is your name?” I intended to try my best to create a relationship with every one. If they were going to be fighting in our army, I wanted them to know who they were fighting alongside.

  We knew everyone we ran across would be willing to fight the dark mage. She had created herself a vast assortment of enemies. What I hoped to accomplish was a group that fought not only against her, but for us. Especially here in the kingdom my brother would be ruling.

  “D'Mitri, Chosen.” He gave a low bow.

  “Please, call me Everleigh. Go ahead and have a seat.” I indicated the chair we had placed in the center of the room.

  He sat down rather gingerly as if he half expected it to swallow him whole before we even started. After a second, he scooted back and looked slightly more comfortable.

  I took the time to explain to him, and the entire room, what would happen during the process. Thanks to Celeste, I knew that I needed to find the runes in their tapestry and “refill” them. She had explained to me that because their magic had been drained, and not stripped from them, the runes would still be visible, and I basically needed to replenish them. I hoped desperately my intuition would kick in and allow me to do it right on the first try.

  “Your only job in the process is to sit here and relax. I am going to place my hand on your shoulder, in the interest of creating a physical connection as well as a magical one, and I will restore your magic. You will have precisely the skills and abilities you had before. You will barely feel the process at all, and there certainly will be no discomfort.”

  A young female near the front raised her hand. “Go ahead.” I nodded at her.

  “I'm sorry to interrupt, Chosen, but may I ask how this works? Why are you able to return our magic? I was under the impression it was gone forever.”

  “What is your name?”

  “I'm sorry, I am Endryl.”

  “No need to apologize, Endryl. It's nice to meet you. As a soul scribe, one of my responsibilities is to balance magic within the universe. When she drained your magic, she created an imbalance that naturally looks to right itself. In very simple terms, I will use my own magic to refill yours. Are there any other questions?”

  From near the back, “How many of us will you be able to return magic to before you run out?”

  “In the interest of being honest, I am unsure. However, I know I am capable of manifesting large amounts at a time. I will help as many of you in one session as I can, then rest to replenish myself. I will continue until you all are returned to your former magical states.”

  After I answered the other questions that arose, it was time to get started. The expressions in the crowd ran from skeptical to curious, and all eyes followed my every move. D'Mitri made every attempt to look relaxed in the chair, but I could feel the waves of nervousness emanating from him. I smiled reassuringly and laid my hand on his shoulder. The contact caused him to startle slightly, but he did not pull away.

  Closing my eyes, I pulled his tapestry into view. The sight of it shocked me, and I bit my cheek to keep from gasping out loud.

  Chapter Seventeen

  I easily found the runes, and their condition left me in shock. She hadn't just drained them to empty. It looked as if she had torn them out. The edges were ragged and the fabric around them had weakened runs through it, reminding me of the tights I wore as a little girl. I needed to both refill and repair each.

  Taking a deep breath, I began. In spite of the dragon stone, the task would prove monumental if they were all in the same state. Seeing that time was of the essence, the best I could do was pray that not all of them were as degraded as D'Mitri.

  I followed my inner voice, patching and repairing until the weak areas had disappeared completely. Focusing my power on his empty runes, I pushed the magic from myself into his soul. I could feel the pull as his runes greedily drank the magic in. As water restored the parched Earth, so the magic rehabilitated his soul.

  The colors returned to their vibrant tones, and the runes themselves practically glowed. I allowed the magic to continue pouring into him until the flow slowed, then stopped, of its own accord.

  Opening my eyes and removing my hand from his shoulder, I nodded at him. “It is done.”

  I watched as he attempted to use his magic for the first time since it had been stolen. I saw the concentration furrow his brow, then watched his eyes go wide as he accessed the innate part of himself that had been missing for so long.

  He jumped to his feet, throwing his arms around me with laughter. “Chosen, forgive me my forwardness, but I cannot thank you enough. I admit I had doubts, but I was wrong!”

  Murmurs ran through the small group we had assembled. Some still sat with their brows raised, but many wore smiles. D'Mitri made his way out the doors into the garden to spread the word that I could, indeed, restore their magic.

  Taryk joined us in the library, taking a seat at the edge of the room to watch. Seven more cycles, all needing varying levels of repair, and then Endryl stood alone. “Are you ready?” I asked her.

  “May I speak with you first, Chosen, if you have the time?” She wrung her hands and looked nervously at the men.

  “Of course. I will make the time. Will you boys give us a minute?”

  Xavier and Taryk stepped out to the garden, mingling with those wandering around the grounds. We sat on the couch, sided by side, and I turned to Endryl and smiled, hoping to encourage her.

  “Well, when the dark mage drained my magic, I was expecting a baby. I never gave birth, but also never lost the baby. Everything just kind of stopped. My spouse didn't make it, the draining of his magic cost him his life.”

  Tears slipped silently down her cheeks. She didn't bother to wipe them away, but kept her hands pressed to her belly. My heart broke for her.

  “I guess what I am trying to say, is that I do not know how having my magic restored will affect
me, or the baby, if he or she is somehow still there.”

  I thought of the dragon eggs. They did not perish when magic disappeared, they simply stopped growing and progressing. I assumed it would be the case here but couldn't be sure.

  “May I touch you and use my sight to see if there is another soul within you? It will give us an idea of how to proceed.”

  She nodded, and I held out my hand. Grasping her fingers in mine, I closed my eyes. Her soul touched me immediately with its beauty in spite of the ragged tears where her magic had been drained. Widening my scope, I searched for the second soul.

  Just as I began to give up hope, I found it. Tiny and wan, it presented almost as a patch upon Endryl's own soul, layered over and connected, yet individual. I pushed a tiny amount of magic toward it, almost as an offering, and it was absorbed immediately. Opening my eyes, I saw her worried face.

  “Your baby waits for you. It is nestled within you, and immediately accepted the magic I offered. I believe if we restore your power that he or she will continue to grow as if there had never been an interruption. Whether I do that or not will be entirely up to you.”

  Silent tears turned to sobs. I wrapped my arms around her and held her close, letting her have her moment. To be so young, she had suffered so much. Taryk caught my eye as he watched through the glass doors. I smiled at him and let him know there was nothing for him to worry about.

  Her sobs subsided and I could feel her attempting to gather her composure. Wiping the tears from her cheeks, she looked at me. I could feel her distress, and her uncertainty weighed on me.

  “Is it safe? What would I be condemning my baby to if I give birth during these times?”

  “I cannot make any guarantees. But I will offer you this. You are welcome to take refuge here in the castle. If you wish to accept the return of your magic now, and bring your baby into this world, we will do everything we can to protect you. This is the safest place you could possibly be. Will the war come to our doorstep? Possibly. I don't believe these wards will be breached. And I do believe we will win the war.”

  I held her hand as she struggled to make her decision.

  “I do not know how long you have until you give birth, but there is a chance the war will be over long before the baby arrives.”

  She nodded. “I should have about six months left.”

  “If all goes well, this war could be over by then. Our hopes are to prepare as best we can, then strike fast and catch her off guard. But I do not want you to feel pressured. I can return your magic at any time. It does not have to be done now.”

  “But you need my magic. That is why I came. I am a healer. In times of war, I can be an invaluable help.”

  “No. We want you safe. We want your baby safe. Even if I return your magic, I would not want you to endanger yourself now. If you elect to receive your magic, I would still want you to stay within the castle wards where you are safe. If we need your assistance it will be to heal those that are here. I will not allow you to go into battle and endanger what will be the first birth here in a very long time. I believe you will better serve us as an ambassador of hope. Show the people that life is returning, and that we will be victorious.”

  Endryl smiled. “An ambassador of hope. I like the sound of that. I am ready.”

  I motioned Taryk to return, and after asking permission, explained the situation.

  “Congratulations. And welcome. I know you will be happy here in the castle.”

  I grabbed her hand again. “Ready?”

  At her nod, I closed my eyes and pulled forth her runes. I paid special attention to every last thread, ensuring there would be no complications in growing a healthy baby. The tapestry of the young, while wan and almost colorless, appeared to be whole.

  It was here I focused the magic first. The tiny being drank it in as if it had been parched. I fed and fed, until I had to pull away for a break. I couldn't understand why it did not fill completely.

  Looking at Taryk, I explained my problem via our bond. After a moment, he nodded. I looked sharply at Endryl when I heard her gasp. Her belly had grown considerably.

  “You must return her magic first. The babe is using everything you are giving it to grow, instead of slowly growing off his or her mother’s reserves.”

  I met her eyes. “I am so, so sorry. I did not know how magical babies grow and develop.”

  Before she could answer me, I closed my eyes again, and focused. In the moments we had been discussing the situation the small tapestry had already lost some of the color it had gained. I fed magic into Endryl's runes. I let her soul drink from mine as it refueled itself. I left the floodgates open, allowing both of them to draw from me as needed. When the transfer of power finally ebbed, I felt unsteady, but thrilled. Both of their tapestries were vibrant and alive.

  Opening my eyes, I saw Taryk watching me with concern. I gave him a reassuring look and turned to face Endryl.

  Her eyes were wide, and wonder filled her features. Both her hands lay on her rounded belly, and she sat silent and motionless for the next few moments. Finally, her eyes met mine, and she grinned.

  “I cannot thank you enough, Chosen. You have no idea what this means to me.”

  “Please, call me Everleigh. I think you and I are going to be great friends. And I apologize that I may have taken away some of your six-month timeline.”

  “Do not apologize. You have returned things to me that I never believed I would have again. I have nothing but gratitude for all you have done for me, and all that you are doing for the rest of us. Without you, we would be waiting for the dark mage to triumph and enslave us all. You have given us a chance, and most importantly, hope.”

  We embraced, and I sent word to Xavier that I would like to give her a room within the castle. He offered the room on the landing next to mine, or one of the suites in the east wing, a choice I passed along to her.

  “Do you mind if I room next to you? I feel more comfortable next to someone I've at least met.”

  “Absolutely, let's get you settled in. Where are the items you brought with you?” I requested Xavier's presence as we headed out of the library.

  He met us head on as we exited through the doors to the yard, and I introduced them.

  “Endryl, this is my brother, Xavier, and the crown prince of Amarys. Xavier this is Endryl.”

  I hid a smile as I watched Xavier's eyes linger, and his best grin emerge. “Nice to meet you, Endryl. Welcome to our home.”

  She blushed and thanked him. The two stood staring at each other silently while I was content to watch whatever seed had just been planted between them. Whatever it would lead to would be blooming soon, if their reactions to each other were any indication.

  Solomon chose that moment to come striding into the yard and demand Xavier's attention. I swallowed a peevish expression, letting Xavier know we would see him later, and turned to go.

  “Wait!” We turned back to him. “Endryl, if you are not otherwise engaged, perhaps you would like to have dinner with me this evening?”

  Solomon interjected before she even had a chance to answer, and the shock on her face showed.

  “He doesn't have time for a dinner date. He has work to do.”

  I didn't have time to open my mouth before Xavier put him in his place. “You are not responsible for my plans, cousin. It would be best if you not only remembered your place but took a more gracious attitude toward my guests.”

  Turning his back fully on Solomon, he smiled at Endryl. “My apologies. The invitation stands, and I would love to dine with you. I will make the time, if you are agreeable.”

  She nodded shyly, looking down to attempt to hide the blush staining her cheeks.

  “Thank you. I will see you this evening.” His smile for Endryl disappeared as he turned to face his cousin. “Now, what can I do for you?”

  I could hear the snarky tone in Solomon's reply, but not the words he spoke, and I hoped to high heaven my brother got that insolent ass under c
ontrol. If he didn't, I would likely do so, probably out of anger. I already knew that would be a disaster. And that assumed Taryk didn't beat me to it.

  We collected Endryl's things, and I showed her to the room next to mine. Along the way, I pointed out the bathing room and which door led to my room.

  Leaving her to take a nap in her new bed, I caught up with Taryk and Xavier in the library. Both had concerned looks on their faces.

  “Uh-oh, now what?” I had no desire for any road blocks. I just wanted to return magic to those who had volunteered, and get my mother from that pit she lay in.

  Taryk shook his head. “You cousin. He is a piece of work.”

  Xavier waved his hand. “I dealt with him. I wish I could say what his problem is, but I honestly have no idea.”

  “Xavier, can we trust him?”

  He shrugged. “I am beginning to doubt his allegiance. Keep your eyes open at all times. I hate to think he would betray us, but I have concerns. Let Yuri and Celeste know when you see them, would you?”

  I agreed. “I am not comfortable returning his magic to him. I don't think it's a safe move for any of us.”

  “The odd thing is that he hasn't asked to have his returned. I find it highly suspicious. Normally he is the type that would have jumped on the opportunity. Either way, I will delay him if it comes up.”

  “Okay, then. Shall we move on with the volunteers?”

  We spent the next few hours moving the residents of the castle through the library. It reminded me somewhat of an assembly line. Word of my success earlier had made the rounds, and doused any skepticism, so we didn't have to waste time on answering questions.

  Xavier and Taryk ushered them in by groups, and I made a single announcement explaining what would happen for each of them. Then we moved right along. The rest I got between groups and during my short speech seemed to be enough to recharge so that I could continue on.

  Twice Xavier left us to usher a new group in through the wards. The crowd of allies grew steadily, but I had the fear it couldn't possibly be enough.